July 3, 2013
Massachusetts

Confirmed: Lightning struck Scituate Wind turbine

By Nancy White | Wicked Local Scituate | Posted Jul 02, 2013 | www.wickedlocal.com

The Scituate wind turbine was hit by lightning during a severe thunderstorm last week.

Sumul Shah, president of Solaya, the operators of Scituate Wind, confirmed the turbine was hit by lightning and has numerous electrical issues that are still being worked out.

As of Monday afternoon, Shah said repairs would continue for the next few days.

“As far as we know now, there are still no major systems impacted by the lightning strike. We have replaced a number of fuses and other small parts,” Shah said in an email.

The turbine was hit sometime between 8 and 9 p.m. on Monday, June 24 during a thunderstorm.

According to Gordon Deane, president of president of Palmer Capital Corporation, the manager of Scituate Wind, LLC, there has been no reported damage to the blade or structure.

“However, there has been damage to some of the low voltage wiring used for controls,” Deane said Thursday. “Each of the components and the wiring is in the process of being inspected and, if necessary, replaced.”

Residents reported hearing a loud crack in the area of the turbine on Monday night during the storm.

“It’s a slow and tedious process,” Shah said of going through the turbine’s many electronic systems and errors. “We have to look at everything, soup to nuts.”

According to the Power Dash website, which records the energy production of Scituate Wind, there was a sudden drop off in energy production between 8 and 9 p.m. on Monday night. There had been no energy production at the turbine since that time.

Check wickedlocalscituate.com for updates on the turbine during the week.

URL to article:  https://www.wind-watch.org/news/2013/07/03/confirmed-lightning-struck-scituate-wind-turbine/